Shortage of professionals rocks China's ocean and river travel industry
Wanderlust linked to the rising disposable income of the vast middle class of China has created humongous opportunities for the country's cruise, yacht and water tourism companies, but the massive demand-supply gap in specialist human resources is threatening to drown them.
China is already the world's fastest-growing cruise market. By the end of the year, Chinese will have bought 1.95 million outbound cruise trips, accounting for more than 50 percent of the Asian cruise market, according to the Cruise Lines International Association.
In recent years, Chinese bought about 1 million individual luxury cruise trips annually. As per the CLIA data, by 2025, that number is expected to grow to 8 to 10 million, as up to 200-300 million Chinese will be able to afford cruise trips.
Yet, major cruise lines are worried a lot these days. For, another set of figures is ringing alarm bells.
By 2020, crews numbering 300,000 will be needed for China's cruise, yacht and water tourism industries. These jobs include captains, helmsmen, pilots, marine engineers, hospitality professionals, performers, emcees, translators, communicators and security people.
The problem has become potentially monstrous because of inadequate number of specialist schools and training centers dedicated to the cruise industry.
Another reason is that ships of different types require crews of varying sizes, ranging from 25 percent to 75 percent of passenger capacity.
That's not all. These days, cruise lines organize a variety of events and entertainment onboard－beauty pageants, singing competitions, board games, and all of which require a plethora of professionals, specialists, experts, organizers and impresarios.
For instance, Geneva-based MSC Cruises, whose ships bring global tourists to China and take Chinese to other countries, said it would need an additional crew of 5,000 by 2017, including 750 Chinese to serve mainland tourists, and 32,000 more by 2022.
